Folding table.



0. M. OTTE.

FOLDING TABLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I1, 918.

1,300,862. j Patented Apr. 15,1919.

* OTHQM. OTTE, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

ronnme TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 15, 1919.

Application filed August 17, 918. Serial No. 250,303.

' To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, OTHO M. OTTE, a citizen-of the United States,residing at the city of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding Tables, of which the following,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to folding metallic tables; and the inventionconsists in providing a simple top with a guard around three sides andwith folding bent rod legs of the desired length preferably in the V orU- shape, which legs are removable for ease in assembling and for smallspace in shipment, being specially-adapted to hospital and similar uses;and the invention consists in the novel features and'combination'shereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form ofthe table in the set up position; and Fig. 2 is a perspective View ofthe preferred form of folding leg in the set up position with the foldedposition suggestedin dotted outline. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof-theunder side ofa portion of the double top showing the; attachingclips for the removable legs and the lock therefor. -Fig. dis aperspective view of the underside of the table with the four foldinglegs in different adjustments, from the set up to the completely foldedpositions. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the springfolding legs showing an end pair of spring legs shaped from one rod andhaving a single central supporting bracket instead of individual supporting brackets or look pieces and Fig. 6 1s a still further modificationwish a pair of legs for one end of the table having two looking orsupporting brackets; and Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a still furthermodification especially of the folding support or look piece, Fig. 8 isa detail perspective view of 'the hinging angular ends of the individualfolding leg removed from the holding brackets; and Fig. 9 is a detailview of the pre ferred form of the holding clip or lock piece removedfrom its holding brackets. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the blank of one ofthe outer brackets or clips showin the locking notches for the springleg or both the folded and set u ositions; and Fi .i 1 1 is a similarview of tiie finished outer olding bracket with the angular leg endhinged therein in the locked folded position,'the

other locking positions being shown in dotted outline; v

' Like'cha-racters of reference refer to corresponding parts in theseveral views; I The numeral 10 designates the top which is preferablymade from sheet metal in the desk or'guarded form. so that the top andflanged edges may be enameled, preferably with vitreous enamel It wouldnot however depart frommy invention to provide said table with a flattop. The present arrangement of top is designed for army hospital use sothat the table may be set over a cot, the legs being of suificie'ntlength to provide room for the patient and cot beneath the tabletop'when said table is in the-set up position with the legs on theopposite sides 'of'thecot.

The folding legs comprise the clips or hinging bracket pieces 11 and 12'which are attached in spaced relation to the-underside of the top 10at-the pointswhere it is desired to attach the folding legs. The singleleg 13 is preferredand'is made inthe U- shape with the angular outwardlyturned ends 14 which spring intothe hingingopenings formed by the curvedportions 1'5-of the clips or brackets'll and 12 so that said leg 13 maybe sprung into holding engagement beneath said clips or resilientlyremoved therefrom by compressing the leg. It is apparent that when theleg 13 is sprung into said holding position it will fold flat againstthe lower side of the top 10 and occupy small space. The folded leg 13has the shoulder made by the angular bend 16 a spaced distance from theclip 12. A separate pair of hinging clips 17 is provided for hinging aspring wire brace or lock-piece 18, which is shaped witha downwardlycurved notch 19 in its top portion, which notch 19 engages beneath theangular curve 16 in the spring leg 13 thereby firmly supporting the leg13 in the set up position.

. In order to hold the U-shaped leg 13 in the folded as Well as in theset up position, a series of notches 20 are provided in the inner end ofthe curved portion 15 of one or both of the clips 11 and 12, thoughpreferably in the outer clip 12, into which notches the resilient leg 13springs, the notches 20 being so laced as to lock the leg 13 firmlyagainst in e underside of the top 10 when folded and aiding in holdingand locking said spring leg 13 in the set up position.

The resilience of the spring leg 13 permits the easy removal of said legfrom its binding engagement in any of said notches 20. Said notches areusually three in number, one being placed vertically on the top of thetubular portion 15 and the other two in each side so that the leg 13 maybe folded and locked on either side of the bracket or clip 12, therebypreventing the dropping or free swinging of said leg 13 from its foldedposition.

A double folding leg may be used without departing from my invention asshown in the modifications in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. When the integral doubleleg is used it preferably has the single locking clip 22 beneath acentral bent up portion 23 as shown in Fig. 5. The double locking legshown in Fig. 6 is merely the duplication of the single leg 13, having apair of locking legs 22 which engage beneath oppositely placed angularshoulders or bends 24:. While the double legs 21 can be set up quickerthan the individual or single leg 13 yet on account of their lack ofrigidity as compared with the leg 13, said individual leg is preferredas stated.

A further modification of the double leg -is shown in Fig. 7 in whichthe end pair of folding legs 26 has a metal plate 25 swiveled about oneof the arms of the leg close to the underside of the top 10 so that theedge of the plate 25 presses firmly against the underside of the tabletop 10 when in the set up position, thereby holding said leg firmly inposition, a small enlargement or shoulder 27 being provided to hold theplate 25 in place so that it can be turned parallel with the undersideof the top 10 when in the folded position and in angular relation tosaid leg 26 when in the set up position.

Both the single and double forms of legs 13, 21 or 26 are removable fromthe table top 10 or attachable thereto in assembling the same, bypressing the resilient spring legs together sufliciently to permit theturned angular ends l t to be inserted into or re moved from the tubularportions 15 of the clips or hinging brackets 11 and 12, or the doublelegs 21 and 26 from beneath the clips 12 and 28. The clips 28 are madewith one side attached to the plate 10 and have a sufficient openingbeneath the bent up curved sides 29 to permit twisting and springing thecross rod of the double leg into or out of engagement beneath said clips28 on their oppositely turned open ides. This is easily accomplished bytwisting said legs 21 or 26 into or out of engagement with saidoppositely turned bent up ends 29, the removable leg permit their beingtied in bundles for shipment and also allows internesting the der spacedfromthe adjacent end of said side of the leg, and a brace composed of arod bent into approximately rectangular form, and pivoted in a plane atright angles to the plane of the pivot of the leg and in said spacebetween the shoulder and the adjacent end of said side of thelegtoengage said shoulder.

2. In a folding table, a top, substantially U-shaped legs pivoted to thetop, one side of each of the legs being bent outwardly at 1approximately right-angles to form a shoulderspaced from the adjacentend of said side of the leg, and a brace composed of a rod bent intoapproximately rectangular form, having one side pivoted in a plane atright angles-to the plane of the pivot of the leg and in said spacebetween the shoulder and the adjacent end of said side of the leg andhaving its opposite side formed with a concaved part to engage andreceive'said shoulder.

I 3. In a folding table, legs having outwardly extending shouldersspaced from the top in erected position of the legs, a brace for eachshoulder arranged in said space and 1 means to pivotally mount the legsso that when the legs are in normal position same extend at right anglesto the top and when the braces are moved into operative position theshoulders can be sprung to allow the braces to engage with same and thetop.

1. In a folding table, a top, legs having movement of 180 and havingoutwardly extending shoulder means spaced from the top in erectedposition of the legs, and means arranged in-said space between the topand shoulders to hold the legs erected and in a plane at right angles tothe plane of the top, said means having opposite parts to positivelyengage against the top and downwardly against the shoulders and one ofsaid means being resilient so as to hold the legs erected and undertension.

5. In a folding table, a top, legs formed of wire and having portionsbent outwardly therefrom to form shoulders spaced from the top inerected position of the legs, means to mount the legs so as to allowsame to have movement of 180 and to permit said shoulders to beresilient with respectto the In testimony whereof I have affixed my top,and means arranged in said space besignature in the presence of twowitnesses. 10 tween the top and shoulders to hold the legs erected andin a plane at right anglesito the OTHO OT plane of the top, said meanshaving opposite Witnesses:

parts tolpositively engage against the top H. A. SANDBERG,

and downwardly against the shoulde'rsso as I. E. Nonns'mom,

to hold the legs erected and under tension.

Copies of this patent my be obtained torflve cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Iatenta,

Washington, D. G."

